This blog is an employment resource for professionals seeking jobs in the emerging field of agricultural and food law. It emphasizes non-traditional employment opportunities instead of legal practice opportunities.
The LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law is pleased to offer this service. These posts are for informational purposes only; we do not make any representations regarding the employment offered.

NATURE OF POSITION: The Associate Counsel, Domestic Policy supports the efforts of the National Pork Producers in monitoring and engaging on issues impacting livestock and pork production. The Associate Counsel will work closely with the Assistant Vice President & Counsel, Domestic Policy to provide legal and strategic guidance regarding regulatory and consumer market challenges to pork production. The Assistant Counsel will support all NPPC mission areas in both Washington DC and Des Moines including, but not limited to, Science and Technology, Industry Relations, and International Affairs to ensure maximum success of NPPC initiatives and its advocacy agenda.

Responsibilities:

• Persuasively advocate on issues of concern to NPPC and its members.

• Monitor, research, analyze, advise, and engage on the legal aspects of government and market driven challenges to pork production.

• Draft statements for congressional and regulatory hearings and other matters.

• Work closely with other program areas of NPPC, including, as appropriate, Communications, Domestic Policy, Science and Technology, International Affairs and Trade, and Industry Relations to ensure consistency and maximum impact of NPPC’s advocacy agenda.

• In concert with relevant NPPC staff, consult with outside experts to determine the impact of actual and proposed laws, regulations, policies and practices on the business operations of pork producers.

• Participate in NPPC committees as needed.

• Participate and lead in coalitions that further NPPC objectives.

• Take on other assignments and projects which may be outside of primary issue area as needed.

REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION:

Education:

• Juris Doctorate required.

Skills/Relevant Experience:

• Must be eligible for membership in the District of Columbia Bar (current membership preferred).

• Experience with litigation, strategic planning, and a strong understanding of the Administrative Procedures Act.

• Be independent and highly self-motivated.

• Have an ability to work collaboratively in a diverse, team-oriented, work environment with NPPC members and staff.

• Be flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances.

• Have an ability to analyze and interpret legislative proposals, proposed rules, and corporate governance.

• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to make persuasive and convincing presentations.

• Have a comprehensive understanding of legislative and political processes.

• Be very organized and able to function effectively in high pressure situations.

• Prior experience in the livestock sector, or agriculture, is desired but not a requirement.

Travel: Requires some travel. Must have valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Monday, June 27, 2016

NSAC is currently seeking a passionate, highly experienced policy professional who will build upon the Coalition’s accomplishments over the past 28 years. Please see the position announcement here. To apply, e-mail cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to: NSAC@raffa.com (e-mail applications are required). For other inquiries contact James Sunshine at jsunshine@raffa.com.

Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator:

NSAC is currently seeking a Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator to help us build grassroots power and win campaigns through coordination of NSAC’s 100+ member organizations and outreach to their respective grassroots membership. Please see the position announcement here. To apply, please send resume, your salary history, the names and contact information of three references, and a brief cover letter including an explanation of your interest in the position, in one single Word document or pdf, to info@sustainableagriculture.net.

The Lecturer position will have full responsibility for teaching ARE 309 course (Environmental Law and Economic Policy) in the Fall of 2016 and Spring of 2017. The course is designed to touch upon some of the major areas of environmental law while providing an understanding of the institutional structures that support these laws to students in the Agricultural Business Management major and many others majors for which a basic understanding of environmental law is useful.

Course topics include: a basic understanding of the American federal system in the context of environmental law; basic administrative procedure for environmental regulations; the National Environmental Policy Act; constitutional issues; air quality regulations; water pollution; rights to use water; management of hazardous and solid waste; hazardous substance remediation; local environmental controls; preservation of natural areas; energy and the environmental issues, as well as other current relevant issues.

Responsibilities include teaching a lecture section and advising students each week, as well as writing, administering, and grading exams and any other assessments the lecturer uses in the course.

Develop and conduct an undergraduate teaching program in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in agricultural law. Teaching will be conducted for the two year Associate Degree (Agricultural Institute) program and the four year (Baccalaureate) undergraduate program. The Lecturer will teach six sections or courses per year – fall and spring semesters in the areas of agricultural law. This will include both domestic and international aspects of the food and agricultural contract system (from a legal perspective). The Lecturer will develop course material suitable for delivery through distance education media and approximately two of the sections or courses taught will be via Distance Education. The person in this position will also have significant responsibilities in advising students (and optional student departmental club activities). Summer teaching opportunities may exist.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Seeks Transactional Food and Beverage Law Clinic Director

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University seeks to hire a Director for its new Transactional Food and Beverage Law Clinic, to start September 1, 2016. This new clinic is part of a collaboration between the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to serve the direct legal service needs of food justice organizations, farmers, and food entrepreneurs in the greater New York region by increasing capacity of the legal community to meet those needs through education of law students and training of lawyers.

The Director/Managing Attorney of the Haub Transactional Food and Beverage Law Clinic will serve as lead attorney on all clinic projects. He/she will work with Professor Margot Pollans, the Food Law Initiative Faculty Director, to identify clinic clients and overall clinic development. The managing attorney will also work with NRDC and other key partners on appropriate clinic projects. During the academic year, the managing attorney will supervise clinic students and will co-teach a weekly clinic seminar. The managing attorney will take the lead in developing the curriculum for the clinic seminar. The managing attorney will also assist with fundraising efforts and participate in teaching and planning for Food Law Initiative workshop programs.

QUALIFICATIONS

•3+ years transactional legal experience

•New York State bar admission (or admission in an another state and willingness to sit for the New York bar at the first opportunity after hiring)

•demonstrated fundraising ability

•excellent analytical and writing skills and demonstrated success in advocacy and client management

•significant experience working with food system issues and a commitment to the mission of the Food Law Initiative

•teaching (or other supervisory) experience

OTHER INFORMATION

•Start date: September 1, 2016

•Position duration: two years with possibility for extension depending on funding

•This is a full-time non-tenure track position and the Director will solely be an employee of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.

•Salary will be commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits package.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

The mission of the Fair Food Standards Council (FFSC) is to monitor the development of a sustainable agricultural industry that advances the human rights of farmworkers, the long-term interests of growers, and the ethical supply chain concerns of retail food companies through implementation of the Fair Food Program (FFP), a unique worker-led, market-driven social responsibility program that emerged from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' successful Campaign for Fair Food. The FFP has been recognized by human rights experts as "the best workplace-monitoring program" in the US and "one of the great human rights success stories of our day." To learn more, please see the FFSC's annual report.

About the Position

Attorneys make findings of fact and apply the Fair Food Code of Conduct to those facts; draft comprehensive reports; negotiate corrective action plans; carry out complaint intake, investigation and resolution through negotiation or formal decision drafting; conduct legal research; prepare memoranda of law on issues affecting farmworker rights; and make presentations to staff and director, as well as the public. FFSC is based in Sarasota, FL, with work-related travel throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Salary and benefits are competitive within the non-profit sector.

LL.M. Employment

LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Lawis the first and only advanced legal degree program in the U.S. focusing on food and agriculture. With a curriculum that covers the full range of agricultural and food law issues, our program addresses legal issues "from farm to fork."

Visit our website for information about this unique program and the opportunities it offers.